A concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI) at work is a serious workplace injury, even when it is initially described as “mild.” Illinois workers who suffer head injuries on the job may experience headaches, memory problems, sleep disruption, emotional changes, and difficulty returning to work safely. Whether the injury results from a fall, a struck-by…
If you’re looking for an Illinois workers’ comp settlement chart, you’re really asking one question:How much is my Illinois workers’ compensation case worth? Illinois does not use a fixed dollar settlement chart. Instead, workers’ compensation settlements are calculated using a statutory formula based on your average weekly wage (AWW), the injured body part, and your…
An Independent Medical Examination (IME)—also called a Section 12 exam—is a mandatory medical evaluation in Illinois workers’ compensation cases requested by the employer or insurance company, not your treating doctor. The IME is used to assess whether your injury is work-related, what treatment is necessary, whether you can return to work, and whether workers’ compensation…
Light-duty work in Illinois workers’ compensation cases allows an injured employee to return to work with medical restrictions while continuing to recover from a job-related injury. While light duty is often presented as a routine step in the workers’ comp process, it frequently becomes a source of confusion, pressure, and disputes over wage benefits. Many…
A recent fatal construction accident near Joliet and Plainfield, Illinois has drawn renewed attention to workplace safety and the legal protections available to workers and their families throughout the Chicagoland area. According to local reporting, an experienced union ironworker was killed on December 15, 2025, while working at a large mixed-use development near Interstate 55…
If workers’ comp denied your surgery in Illinois, don’t assume the denial is final. The insurer often denies expensive procedures to delay payment or push you to use private insurance. The fastest way to fight back is to (1) get the denial in writing, (2) strengthen your surgeon’s medical support, and (3) move the dispute…
If you’re on workers’ compensation in Illinois, small mistakes can quietly cost you thousands of dollars in lost benefits — or even get your claim cut off entirely. Illinois workers’ comp law has strict rules about medical treatment, work restrictions, social media, surveillance, and settlement decisions, and insurance companies actively look for reasons to reduce…
If you’re searching “what workers’ comp lawyers won’t tell you,” you’re likely dealing with a workplace injury and trying to understand how workers’ compensation claims really work before making a decision you can’t undo. While workers’ compensation is meant to provide medical treatment and wage benefits, the process is often procedural, deadline-driven, and heavily dependent…
If you were injured at work in Chicago or the surrounding suburbs and are questioning whether your workers’ compensation case is being handled properly, you’re not alone. Many injured workers seek a stress-free second opinion before deciding whether to change or fire their workers’ compensation lawyer. Under Illinois law, your case belongs to you—not the…
Do I need a lawyer to get a workers’ comp settlement in Illinois? No—Illinois law does not require you to have a lawyer to settle a workers’ compensation case. However, injured workers who handle a claim on their own may receive a lower settlement than those with legal representation. Insurance companies often take claims more…
If you were injured at work and filed a workers’ compensation claim, you’re probably asking the same questions almost every injured worker asks: when will my workers’ comp case settle, how long does it take, will workers’ comp offer a settlement, and do I need a lawyer to settle my case? Under Illinois law, there…
A recent Amazon Prime semi crash on the Kennedy Expressway (I-94) near Lawrence Avenue shut down lanes on Chicago’s Northwest Side, drawing attention to the risks faced by delivery drivers and commercial workers across Chicago and Cook County. The crash occurred around 10:17 p.m. in the northbound lanes, according to Illinois State Police. While no…
Teachers attacked at school are often injured during assaults or physical altercations with students, parents, or co-workers—and many of these injuries are covered by workers’ compensation under Illinois law. Being struck, kicked, bitten, pushed, or hurt while restraining a student or breaking up a fight is not “just part of the job.” When violence occurs…
When a nurse is attacked by a patient at work, Illinois workers’ compensation treats the incident as a work injury—not a personal matter. The nurse may be entitled to medical treatment, wage replacement benefits, disability compensation, and in severe cases lifetime benefits, even if the hospital minimizes the assault or no criminal charges are filed….
Chicago nurses who are attacked by patients at work are covered by Illinois workers’ compensation law. Despite new hospital safety laws, patient violence continues to injure nurses across Chicago emergency departments and inpatient units. When a nurse is assaulted on the job, workers’ compensation may provide medical treatment, wage replacement, permanent disability benefits, and—in severe…
